impression of my role model, Jacques Cousteau, due to my extensive background research for Project 1. I had confidence in my sympathetic imagination, my ability to “…penetrate the barrier…” between my role model and myself and even momentarily have “…complete identification with [him].”[1] But I felt handicapped attempting this complete immersion into his character in Second Life, as if I had all of my limbs cut off. Actually, this feeling of helplessness extended to my voice, my face, and all of the means of expression available to me in reality. The barrier between myself and the people I conversed with seemed immense, even impenetrable, because I could not convey my character and neither could they. My mounting frustration induced a motivation for writing Project 2 that dwarfed my motivation for writing Project 1.
“This is a multimedia essay of at least fourteen hundred words (four pages or so) about the role model, exemplar, hero, or leader who best epitomizes your own passion and leadership vision.”[2] The prompt for Project 1 resembled many other prompts I had responded to in high school. My English classes throughout had drilled into me the formulaic approach in anticipation of those that students would encounter in standardized tests and college applications. I knew the ins and outs of “chunking”, making assertions, creating “insightful” analysis, and the other various methods by which teachers tried to enforce logical progression of thought upon adolescents. Responding to such a prompt neither worried me nor excited me. I had no definite role model but chose Cousteau because I admired his individuality, his powerful presence, and his well roundedness. I emphasized his ability to motivate others in Project 1:
“A personal ideology adopted by Cousteau “Il faut aller voir” or “We must go and see for ourselves” inspired his crew members throughout his life, practicing direct observation and often performing duties “[…]far beyond the scope of their professional duties.”[3][4]
This epitomizes my perception of Cousteau. His swaggering charm, his passion, and his confident civility gravitated others towards him and his cause. Though I had no personal connection with Cousteau, I believed I had established one through my research and reading over other’s accounts of their encounters with the man. I felt compelled to Cousteau’s cause, his gravity as a leader emanating through time. This ability to influence, to recognize a passion and to draw in others to my work is something I personally want to achieve. His passion for his work was surpassed only by his love of his crew, family, and the little moments of mystery that direct the course of one’s life, yet another quality of Cousteau that I wish to emulate. Thus, my initial apathy to writing Project 1 was eventually overpowered by a genuine admiration for the man I had somewhat arbitrarily chosen as a role model.
Having established a more comprehensive respect for Cousteau, I had higher expectations for the Second Life interaction than before Project 1. (Before, I had little, if any interest in chatting on Second Life). It was immediately obvious to me that merely decorating my avatar with various bits and pieces of virtual clothing I found to resemble Cousteau would do nothing to evoke his presence, so I focused instead on something more profound.
Through my research, I learned that one of Cousteau’s most attractive qualities as a leader was his ability to sincerely
listen. This connected with a central theme in the course, as defined by Allen Menio in “Have You Tried Listening?” who
emphasized “…the profound effects it has upon [his] relationship with the person to whom [he is] listening.”[5] I glommed onto this concept and planned to use it in Second Life to portray Couteau’s awe-inspiring personability and willingness to connect with others. However, my first experience experimenting with my avatar quickly extinguished my little glimmer of hope. To my dismay, I soon realized that the virtual world severely restricted the means through which I could attempt to emulate Cousteau’s elegant listening. Yes, there are ways through which an avatar can gesture or “shout” and move his or her body about, but the power of these nuances diminishes as the avatar has limited means by which to sense timing in conversation. Each nod of my avatars head or gesture of the avatar’s hand in response to something said had a certain lag that rendered it useless. The only means of expression I could truly command was my speech, plain words on a page in a chat room. But there is so much more to listening and conversation than raw speech. How does one exhibit charm, confidence, or civility through an avatar? Too much depends on the face, the body language, voice fluctuation, eye contact and the timing of gestures than can ever be expressed digitally.
Not only did Second Life eliminate the means by which I could emulate Cousteau’s listening, the parameters of the discussion severely hampered my ability to connect with other characters. Emphasis was placed on the quantity of speech, and thus, the concern for grades, competition, and winning points clouded the usual appreciation for artful conversation. Students more often talked at each other instead of with each other. In my own conversations, I observed a blatant disjointedness. For example, in my second meeting, from about 9:54am to 9:58am, a rift in the conversation occurred and two members dominated the chat. One avatar on the fringes of this exclusive moment disappeared due to some technical difficulty, and returned after one minute asking for a reiteration of the conversation thus far. I decided to test the intensity of this rift by waiting, observing the listening of the other characters, but no one responded to the plea. Eventually, we all worked our way back into the conversation, but in that moment of vast separation, I realized the hopelessness of true listening in such a stressful, competitive environment.
Even the scientific studies conducted on the interaction in Second Life shed light on the inadequacy of virtual socialization. Noshir Contractor published a report in Science, which examined how groups of people accessed expertise in their workplace. Companies and organizations often create contact information databases that employees may use to reach the members of their team who have the most experience dealing with a problem. Attempting to emulate this virtually, Contractor conducted an experiment on World of Warcraft, a site similar to Second Life, and found that “even though the game provides lists of players best able to craft deadly weapons or construct defenses, when players needed help, they typically turned instead to other players they already knew or had worked with in the past.”[6] The limitations of interaction on virtual sites severely hamper interpersonal connections, encouraging players to stick close to the people they know in reality. Thus, our class Second Life conversations were inhibited by two things: a) the limited means of expression through an avatar, and b) the fact that in assuming new characters we essentially became strangers in an environment not conducive to meeting new people.
As I reflected on my experience in Second Life after leaving class Thursday October 11, my frustration and disappointment escalated. I mulled over the inadequacies of not only Second Life for stepping into character, but the parameters of the discussion and class, which were conducive to talking at each other, not with each other. However, as Project 2 approached, my strong feelings gave way to strong motivation to articulate my thoughts regarding the whole experience. This motivation moved beyond the typical “academic” motivation for writing a paper in the usual sense. I felt I had a message to convey, that coming up with 1700 words of my own on the subject would be a piece of cake. Slowly, I realized that this experience, the epiphany, the moment of inspiration, made all the disappointment and frustration of Second Life worthwhile. For once, I had purpose behind my assignment and felt that I was composing rather than writing. Too often, I felt like a writing prostitute, with no genuine passion or purpose in my writing other than to complete the assignment. Sometimes, I was lucky enough to find inspiration at least in the process of writing, such as in Project 1, and other times, I was not. Second Life provided a segway to coherence and unity as it inspired a motivation for composition.
This is exactly how I feel 99.9% of the time I'm asked to respond to a prompt. The best writing comes spontaneously, or pertains to something I'm really passion about. Asking someone to feel passionate about some assigned reading or some literary element is asking someone to be dishonest. Just like Eskimo, my most genuine writing is inspired by moments in which I'm not focused on writing at all.
This explains the plethora of research studies conducted on Second Life in education today, including the University of Texas Division of Instructional Innovation and Assessment’s study on “…the effect of the use of an online virtual world environment (Second Life) on writing motivation.”[7] Other educational institutions around the country have realized the enhanced motivation for learning Second Life provides. Some have even extended this motivation to scientific concepts, and have developed their own virtual worlds devoted to science education. For example, the National Science Foundation has created “River City” and “Quest Atlantis”, in which students “…explore public health issues in a simulated 19th-century town…” and “…develop fundamental research skills by solving environmental problems.”[8] This new educational context of virtual interaction has gained popularity by leaps and bounds, spreading to Ohio University, the University of Texas at Dallas, the University of Cincinnati, Bowling Green State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Vassar college. Because the motivation that Second Life induces not only pertains to writing motivation, a new potential for education across all disciplines emerges.
The present moment marks a major historical transition. Second Life’s roots are taking hold in education as professors, scientists, and researchers are making known the powers of virtual interaction in motivating students. Slowly but surely, the traditional methods of education, scantrons, note-taking, and drop-boxes make way for virtual worlds, email, and paperless forms of communication and group interaction. My personal experience in Second Life entailed frustration and disappointment, but as a learning experience, it inspired a genuine passion for writing that can only come from such a dynamic, involved, (though flawed) medium for discovery. Through Second Life, I found inspiration for a topic which I previously found mundane and pointless, teaching me the joys of finding such inspiration before writing as well as the beauty of writing with sincerity.
Word Count: 1738
[1].J. Bates, “The Sympathetic Imagination”, Composition and Reading in World Literature, (Austin: U of Texas, 2007).
[2]Dr. Jerome Bump, “Project One”, E603 World Literature Schedule Page, http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/%7Ebump/E603A07/ P1.html, Accessed 17 Oct., 2007.
[3]Charlotte Beall (P1)
[4]Jacques Cousteau, Calypso, (New York: Henry N Abrams, Inc, 1983), 15.
[5]Allen Menio, “Have You Tried Listening?”, Composition and Reading in World Literature, (Austin: U of Texas, 2007), 89.
[6]Greg Miller, “The Promise of Parallel Universes”, Science, 317 no. 5843 (Sept. 2007), 1342.
[7]“On-Line Virtual Worlds and Writing Motivation”, Student Consent Form, (Austin: U of Texas, 2007), 1.
[8]William Sims Bainbridge, “The Scientific Research Potential of Virtual Worlds”, Science, 317 no. 5837 (July 2007), 475.
[9]"The Inspiration for Eskimo", YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMyUtok4fGg, Accessed 19 Oct. 2007.
[10] Jerome Bump, "Index of /~bump/E603A07/pics", Composition and Reading in World Literature Page, http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~bump/E603A07/pics/, Accessed 29 Oct., 2007.
Appendix
Group 6:
[9:08] LincolnLog Rokocoko: lol
[9:09] LincolnLog Rokocoko: ok make things interesting
[9:09] LincolnLog Rokocoko: lets see
[9:10] Alaina Felisimo: I think a leader is capable of leading others while still maintaining a respectful relationship with them.
[9:11] Lantz Pichot: Hey. A leader is someone who can connect with people and convey their feelings.
[9:12] Basic Chair: Right click me and choose 'Sit Here' to sit down
[9:12] Alaina Felisimo: Also, I think it is important that a leader knows what he believes and does not conform to society but expresses and lives these ideas and values.
[9:12] Lantz Pichot: That, I definately agree with.
[9:13] Lantz Pichot: Leaders are people who dare to step out.
[9:13] Alaina Felisimo: I agree that connection is very important in any leader/follower relationship. ONLY CONNECT!
[9:13] You: Yes, I agree Alaina. I think individualismm is key. A leader accepts not only his own character, but the character of others.
[9:13] Alaina Felisimo: Yes, and are not afraid to do the unknown or be persecited for it.
[9:13] Lantz Pichot: Haha, yeah, hammer your visions into unity while you're at it. :)
[9:13] Lantz Pichot: But actually, "hammering your visions" is pretty important.
[9:14] Alaina Felisimo: Individualism is very important but also being able to relate to others is very important. Someone cannot be too individualistic that they are unapproachable...
[9:14] You: Individualism is defined by passion, passion for life, for adventure, for discovery and exploration.
[9:14] Lantz Pichot: Leaders take stands on topics, and people follow because they're so confident.
[9:15] Nepal Bergamasco: Confidence is important because once a leader starts something, he must do everything to execute his goal
[9:16] Alaina Felisimo: I agree leaders should never quit, but I also think that a leaders flaws make him more human. people dont always want to follow a perfect man.
[9:16] Alaina Felisimo: A true leader can overcome any obstable or flaw and turn it into a positive situation and aspect of their character/
[9:16] Nepal Bergamasco: You're right, a leader also mut be human
[9:16] You: Well yes, confidence comes with an acceptance of your own passion. A leader pursues his/ her passion without any interest in the accomplishment. The interest drives their actions.
[9:16] Nepal Bergamasco: must*
[9:17] Alaina Felisimo: I think Passion is the most important aspect of a leader also. Without passion, a leader is not a leader.
[9:18] Alaina Felisimo: A leader must also take interest in his followers. He must be able to listen to them and put their needs and wants into action.
[9:18] Nepal Bergamasco: Yes, passion is the driving force in any leader.
[9:18] You: I always say. "Il faut aller voir". We must go and see for ourselves. This means that in pursuing our passions, we must become proactive, not observers, but active partcipants.
[9:18] Nepal Bergamasco: It's important to know the passion of your people as well if you are to become a leader
[9:18] You: A leader insists on involvement.
[9:19] Nepal Bergamasco: Once you connect with your people, and feel what they feel, only then will you see the real need in a group of people
[9:19] Alaina Felisimo: I think charisma and character are also two very important attributes of a leader/
[9:20] Nepal Bergamasco: Empathy is important in leadership.
[9:20] Alaina Felisimo: I agree and compassion.
[9:20] You: I agree Nepal, recognizing the individuality among your crewmembers creates a feeling of community.
[9:21] Nepal Bergamasco: The importance of vision in a leader is important
[9:21] Nepal Bergamasco: A leader should see ahead.
[9:21] Nepal Bergamasco: Look at the big picture
[9:21] Alaina Felisimo: The ability to make everyone feel united towards a goal
[9:22] You: I find that if I surround myself with a crew or team full of their own passions, I don't have to encourage them to work. An "esprit de corps" emerges. Everyone jumps on board and words as a body.
[9:22] Alaina Felisimo: and to want to pursue it togeher is key.
[9:23] Alaina Felisimo: I agree. A leader needs agroup of supportive individuals that are just as passionate as he is or he will not be able to accomplish much
[9:23] Nepal Bergamasco: Latte, I agree. I see a body with the same passion just like a boat, with all its passengers paddling, with the leader in the front to lead the direction.
[9:23] Alaina Felisimo: Again, I stress that a respectful relationship between all members of an involved party is so important.
[9:24] Alaina Felisimo: I also believe that aleader needs a personable side.. he needs to be able to relate to others, to make jokes, and to not take himself too seriously.
[9:24] You: Yes, a unifying passion for life in all aspects, family, work, discovery, creates a balance on a level with which all in the crew can relate. Then, there are unifying feelings and experiences with which people may relate to each other.
[9:24] Nepal Bergamasco: Alaina, you're right because with respect, we get rid of the things that might complicate eachother's relationship
[9:25] You: Yes Nepal, a boat of discovery.
[9:25] Nepal Bergamasco: The little things always matter
[9:25] Nepal Bergamasco: yeah
[9:25] Alaina Felisimo: The litte things are the foundation to accomplishing great things.
[9:25] Alaina Felisimo: A leader also needs experience.
[9:25] Nepal Bergamasco: It's important that a leader pays attention to little things, details
[9:25] You: Upon which, the shipmates explore themselves as well as each other
[9:26] You: What kind of details do you mean Nepal?
[9:26] Alaina Felisimo: They need to have encountered various situations and outcomes to truly know how to handle anything.
[9:26] You: I think you refer to the magic of the moments.
[9:27] Nepal Bergamasco: Details like, how each member in a group interact with the rest. A leader should pay attention to the smallest things like, how does one member of your group feel today?
[9:27] You: A leader should be able to recognize the magical moments of his/her life.
[9:27] Alaina Felisimo: I know my experiences in the air force truly made me a better leader because I was put in a situation i HAD NEVER BEEN IN BEFORE AND WAS FORCED TO FIND MYSELF and support those around me.
[9:27] Alaina Felisimo: It is the moments that make history
[9:28] You: Oh, yes. The quirks and idiosyncracies of the crew.
[9:28] You: These are what defines them.
[9:28] Nepal Bergamasco: Alaina: describe one trait in a leader you feel you have had whhile in the air force
[9:28] Nepal Bergamasco: and tell us how it affected your experience there
[9:29] You: New situations induce new chances for exploration. They draw the attention away from the self and focus energies on others.
[9:30] Nepal Bergamasco: Latte: can you expand on that?
[9:31] Alaina Felisimo: Well just in general, teamwork was key. In the midst of a war, it was important to realize that I could depend on others because we were all there for the same reason. I cannot really think of any one experience that truly defined my time there but I was introduced to so many opportunities at being a leader such as serving as a captain and Judge Advocate.
[9:31] Nepal Bergamasco: Aliana: So teamwork and the feeling of having your back supported by your members all the time is important
[9:32] Nepal Bergamasco: That is true, but a leader must not forget that initiative is what the whole group needs
[9:33] You: Yes, I think what Alaina refers to is the moments in life that spur a realization of the insignificance of the individual. Happiness occurs when one ceases to focus inwardly, and begins to focus on the love for life and relationships with others. This creates a well rounded being.
[9:33] Alaina Felisimo: yes, I would say so. Although, I know I can accomplish things on my own, accomplishing things is a group effort. It is up to the leader to initiate the goal and the followers to help make it happen.
[9:34] You: I send my crewmembers home once every six months for this purpose. To spend time with families, pursue other interests.
[9:35] You: When they are with me on my voyages, I encourage them to pursue their various other interests as well.
[9:35] Alaina Felisimo: It is always important to have a strong support group at home. I have learned that my family will always be there for me, through the good and the bad.
[9:35] You: And I find that their enthusiasm grows by leaps and bounds in this manner.
[9:35] Nepal Bergamasco: Latte: I see now that a leader must put emphasis on the exploration of each member's inner self
[9:35] You: Yes!
[9:35] Alaina Felisimo: A cultured person will most likely be a more successful leader becasue they know how to relate to others.
[9:36] Nepal Bergamasco: Alaina: Yes, a strong sense of family and community is important
[9:36] You: This emphasis creates a basis for personal relationships.
[9:36] Cameron Reinard shouts: until otherwise shown, we can
[9:36] You: Upon which, real power as a team rises.
[9:37] You: Nice talking with you all. Il faut aller voir.
[9:37] Nepal Bergamasco: Leading India and continuously leading those 1-month fast and upholding non-violence although the whole country was in chaos, having my family and core supporters were important in my mission
[9:38] You: Nepal, how did their support aid you in your work?
[9:39] Nepal Bergamasco: It was hard to lead the people to non-violence when the rest of the country was in chaos. However, having supporters during the Salt March where we walked and fasted for a month, it helped me realize that there are people with the same passion and dream for India.
[9:40] Alaina Felisimo: Leaders are able to think outside the bow. They are creative in ways to approach things.
[9:40] Alaina Felisimo: box**
[9:40] Nepal Bergamasco: Having people to lead with the same goals as me made the already difficult situation a little easier to accomplish.
[9:40] You: I see, your passions acted as a ripple, and collided with others all over India.
Group 1:
9:44] Pose Ball: LincolnLog Rokocoko, say 'Hide' to hide me, or 'Show' to make me show. Or just right-click and sit on me to use me.
[9:45] No room to sit here, try another spot.
[9:45] LincolnLog Rokocoko: good slightly-before-noon
[9:46] You: yes, what a gorgeous day
[9:46] LincolnLog Rokocoko: is it a diverse day?
[9:46] You: We have quite opposite apporaches to facial hair
[9:46] You: our hair is diverse
[9:46] doolie Wycliffe: hello!
[9:47] LincolnLog Rokocoko: i can't really see yours
[9:47] LincolnLog Rokocoko: is that a flava sava
[9:47] LincolnLog Rokocoko: ?
[9:47] doolie Wycliffe: what's a flava sava
[9:47] You: I've been bald for a couple decades now
[9:47] LincolnLog Rokocoko: a soul patch
[9:47] You: no no
[9:47] LincolnLog Rokocoko: oh
[9:47] LincolnLog Rokocoko: lol
[9:47] LincolnLog Rokocoko: maybe you just need a napkin
[9:47] You: Many of the leaders I've followed have been bald.
[9:47] You: HEY
[9:47] LincolnLog Rokocoko: haha
[9:48] LincolnLog Rokocoko: ghandi?
[9:48] doolie Wycliffe: leadership and diversity
[9:48] You: NO, but greatly influenced by many meditative traditions.
[9:48] You: Zen in particular
[9:48] LincolnLog Rokocoko: buhdda
[9:49] You: Though I'm white, many who I have followed are not white
[9:49] LincolnLog Rokocoko: i dont know how to spell budda
[9:49] You: buddha
[9:49] LincolnLog Rokocoko: right
[9:49] LincolnLog Rokocoko: i know theres an h in there somehwere
[9:49] Latte Littlething: Bonjour
[9:49] doolie Wycliffe: haha
[9:49] doolie Wycliffe: hola
[9:49] You: when you think of diversity, is race the first thing that comes to mind?
[9:49] doolie Wycliffe: i htink culture
[9:49] LincolnLog Rokocoko: truthfully yes
[9:49] Latte Littlething: No, individuality and expression comes to mind
[9:50] LincolnLog Rokocoko: but i definitely dont think it should be
[9:50] doolie Wycliffe: which includes race
[9:50] Latte Littlething: No
[9:50] You: yeah, thats interesting
[9:50] Latte Littlething: culture involves expression, not race
[9:50] doolie Wycliffe: yes but much of our culture comes from our ethnic backgrounds
[9:50] You: Are leaders subject to the same stereotyping tendencies that most people succumb to?
[9:50] doolie Wycliffe: not all but there are things
[9:50] Latte Littlething: But I was more referring to the pursuit of passions
[9:51] You: leaders are defnitely passionate
[9:51] You: that is one thing that unifies the diversity of leaders
[9:52] You: Do you think leaders generally influence a single demographic?
[9:52] You: a group similar to themselves?
[9:52] doolie Wycliffe: no
[9:52] Latte Littlething: Yes, but inducing the pursuit of individual passions of the crew, recognizing them as individuals and accepting the diversity among them creates a feeling of community, one of the most important factors for exploration and discovery
[9:52] You: Yes recognizing diversity can be very empowering
[9:53] You: it is bad if we ignore our individuality
[9:53] doolie Wycliffe: wait yes to a group similar to ourselves in some ways
[9:53] You: we must know ourselves to lead
[9:53] doolie Wycliffe: depending on beliefs and culture as a way of life
[9:53] Latte Littlething: and a captain may preserve this diversity by respecting his crew's beliefs
[9:53] doolie Wycliffe: yes but if his views differ he should not conform
[9:54] You: and there is a delicate balance between perceiving the beliefs of others and projecting our own beliefs onto them.
[9:54] You: especially in instances involving disparate cultures
[9:54] Latte Littlething: Precisely, social standards should never factor into pursuit of passion
[9:54] Latte Littlething: or obstruct it
[9:54] doolie Wycliffe: what would you define as culture?
[9:54] doolie Wycliffe: the way of life? the language? the religious beliefs?
[9:54] You: I was trying to find a word to sum up disparate bacgrounds...
[9:54] Latte Littlething: I found a way for my interets to correspond with my work during the war that paved the way for my explorations later in life.
[9:55] You: culture entails a shared use of symbols
[9:55] Latte Littlething: Yes, a common feeling, experience, ideology
[9:55] You: some unity that allows a group to perceive themselves as related
[9:55] LincolnLog Rokocoko: sorry my mind shut down for a minute
[9:55] LincolnLog Rokocoko: lol
[9:55] LincolnLog Rokocoko: I've got to catch up
[9:56] You: a leader must
[9:56] doolie Wycliffe: as a christian leader i would influence other christians, but perhaps not all the same people from the same regions
[9:56] Latte Littlething: I once used the book 20,000 leagues under the sea as a common experience with which to unify my crew
[9:56] LincolnLog Rokocoko: can someone sum up what has been said. what conclusions have been arrived upon?
[9:56] You: what do you mean? christians from a broad area? or christians inconcentrated areas?
[9:56] doolie Wycliffe: especially in america where there are so many different religions in the same areas
[9:57] Latte Littlething: A bit of culture to which everyone could relate
[9:57] You: so selectively influence within a broad culture?
[9:57] doolie Wycliffe: christians all over the world
[9:57] You: do you think this makes christians diverse?
[9:58] Latte Littlething: Lincoln, we are talking about culture and religion, how they influence a leader and his mission
[9:58] You: the fact that they are spread across the world
[9:58] You: It is important to find a way to UNIFY.
[9:58] LincolnLog Rokocoko: thanks
[9:58] You: unity is som important, coherence of messsage.
[9:58] doolie Wycliffe: well my point was that its hard to define culture because sometimes you include religion and sometimes you dont as well as other things
[9:58] LincolnLog Rokocoko: what are some things that everyone shares
[9:59] LincolnLog Rokocoko: ?
[9:59] Latte Littlething: childhood
[9:59] doolie Wycliffe: needs
[9:59] You: right. so lets just call culture a group with some shared symbols
[9:59] LincolnLog Rokocoko: growth in general
[9:59] Latte Littlething: As I mentioned before, childhood is a fantastic way to unify a crew
[9:59] LincolnLog Rokocoko: intellectual needs, need to be loved and to love
[9:59] You: childhood?
[9:59] LincolnLog Rokocoko: what are some others?
[9:59] Latte Littlething: It is a common experience
[10:00] LincolnLog Rokocoko: religion can provide these
[10:00] You: do you find diversity within your crews?
[10:00] LincolnLog Rokocoko: and culture
[10:00] Latte Littlething: love
[10:00] Latte Littlething: passion for living
[10:00] Latte Littlething: passion for exploration
[10:00] LincolnLog Rokocoko: a need of belonging
[10:00] Latte Littlething: discovery
[10:00] doolie Wycliffe: expression of emotions
[10:00] Latte Littlething: Yes, all these things are ideas which people of all backgrounds can relate to
[10:01] You: inherent human qualities.
[10:01] You: but we are conditioned by the culture we live in as well
[10:01] LincolnLog Rokocoko: i think discovery can be of the world or within one's self
[10:01] Latte Littlething: yes!
[10:01] LincolnLog Rokocoko: we are definitely conditioned by culture
[10:01] You: internal discovery can certainly be alife long endeavor
[10:01] Latte Littlething: And discovery of others!
[10:01] doolie Wycliffe: yes and i think it is important to learn about others cultures
[10:02] doolie Wycliffe: but without having to believe in the same thigns
[10:02] You: learning about ourselvles enhances our ability to learn about otherse
[10:02] LincolnLog Rokocoko: i think it is important to think about the underlying motivations for people, despite the culture theyare from
[10:02] You: how do we do that?
[10:02] doolie Wycliffe: observation?
[10:02] LincolnLog Rokocoko: everyone has an unconscious i beleive
[10:02] doolie Wycliffe: contact with other peoples
[10:02] You: how do we separate their underlying motiviations from the culture that has conditioned them?
[10:02] doolie Wycliffe: get to know them?
[10:02] You: I agree
[10:02] LincolnLog Rokocoko: and basic primitive drives
[10:03] You: and there is collective unconscious as well
[10:03] LincolnLog Rokocoko: connect everything we do to these drives and you can transcent cultural boundaries i think
[10:03] Latte Littlething: doolie: culture is an integral part of who we are as individuals. recognizing the culture within each person makes a leader more influential, as he develops a relationship with his crew
[10:03] You: get to know them?
[10:03] Latte Littlething: collective unconcious?
[10:03] doolie Wycliffe: as in know people better. really listen and learn
[10:03] You: there is no context outside of contexts... we cannot remove a person from culture
[10:04] LincolnLog Rokocoko: really listen
[10:04] LincolnLog Rokocoko: listen subjectively
[10:04] LincolnLog Rokocoko: actively making connections that are not said
[10:04] You: yes, that's true. subjectively. do you think we can "break past" cultural conditioners?
[10:04] Latte Littlething: A leader who is personable, meaning one who listens, truly listens, is able to inspire an "esprit de corps" spirit of the body
[10:04] You: so beyond verbal
[10:05] doolie Wycliffe: you can recognize the culture within each person, but letting yourself be swayed by every culture would compromise yourself as a leader in a way
[10:05] Latte Littlething: Yes, through the unifying passion for exploration sprinkles
[10:05] doolie Wycliffe: a leader should stick with what they believe
[10:05] You: can we truly listed (understand) someone without the same symbol systems as we have
[10:06] LincolnLog Rokocoko: it is difficult
[10:06] You: doolie?
[10:06] doolie Wycliffe: ?
[10:06] LincolnLog Rokocoko: that is where cultural boundaries compicate things
[10:06] You: unwavering leadership?
[10:06] You: noc ompromise?
[10:06] You: compromise?
[10:06] doolie Wycliffe: compromise as in
[10:07] You: how does compromise relate to diversity?
[10:07] Latte Littlething: yes, symbols become irrelevant under the fundamentals of life
[10:07] Latte Littlething: and living
[10:07] LincolnLog Rokocoko: if your leadership is only valued by a specific culture, who is truely leadership?
[10:07] You: it seems like unifying diversit requires some compromise
[10:08] doolie Wycliffe: okay like for example politicians who vote against homosexual rights yet practice homosexuality have compromised what they SAID they believe
[10:08] LincolnLog Rokocoko: it's using a particular cultural tradition to your advantage
[10:08] You: I think your leadership can be recognized by other cultures
[10:08] You: even if its influece was not as strong on that culture
[10:08] LincolnLog Rokocoko: i think by doing that a leader is rejecting other cultures
[10:08] doolie Wycliffe: leadership can definitly be recognized by other cultures
[10:08] Latte Littlething: At least respected, and that is the key to understanding
[10:08] You: yes respect.
[10:08] Latte Littlething: and building a relationship
[10:09] LincolnLog Rokocoko: good leadership can, thats my point
[10:09] You: thats true, we must respect others to build relationships.
[10:09] Latte Littlething: what is "good leadership" lincoln?
[10:09] You: part of respecting others is respecting yourself.
[10:09] LincolnLog Rokocoko: if a leader is only a leader in a particular niche he/she is not truely a leader
[10:09] Latte Littlething: and recognizing the passion within
[10:09] You: hmmmmm...
[10:09] Latte Littlething: and pursuing it regardless of social standards
[10:09] LincolnLog Rokocoko: a leader's characteristics are universal
[10:09] You: but everyone is in a particualr niche
[10:10] You: no one incorporates all contexts
[10:10] Latte Littlething: Nice talking with you all.
[10:10] doolie Wycliffe: yeah
[10:10] You: strenth comes from acknowledging your context
10:10] Latte Littlething: Esprit de corps, remember
[10:10] Latte Littlething: spirit of the body
[10:10] You: THANKS GUYS
[10:10] LincolnLog Rokocoko: everyone one should incorporate allcontexts
[10:11] LincolnLog Rokocoko: connect!
[10:11] LincolnLog Rokocoko: good talk
[10:11] doolie Wycliffe: haha
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